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Welcome to the 2020-2021 Academic Year
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image description: Institute for LGBT Studies staff holding signs that spell out ILGBTS. Pictured Upper L-R: Angela Labistre Champion, Adrienne Carmack, Sarah Maaske. Pictured Lower L-R:Jill Koyama, Luna Chung, Sy Simms.
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The 2020-2021 academic year begins.
At the Institute, we are pained by the suffering and sorrow brought to the fore by the two pandemics-systemic racism and COVID-19. We remain committed to acting courageously and in solidarity with all those who are oppressed by the inequitable institutions, policies, and practices at UA, across Southern Arizona, in the US, and through the globe. As Teju Cole and Fazal Sheikh remind us in their beautiful book, Human Archipelago: "As human beings we might be temporarily bounded by our circumstances. But we are not contained by them." The Institute staff wants to act expansively with you as we enter the new and most unusual academic year.
Like many entities during the pandemic, the Institute has moved its work outside of our physical offices to our homes and backyards. We have "pivoted" to online work, but rather have deepened our commitment to online programming. This unique time has afforded us the opportunity to increase our creativity, collaborate with additional local organizations, and make our events, talks, and research accessible to many more people. Even as we emerge from our sheltering in place, distance keeping, and mask wearing, we will continue to offer robust and consistent online options as part all of our programs. We have also realized the comfort and stability that accompanies regularly scheduled events. This year, in addition to our single date activities including two Miranda Joseph Endowed Lectures, we are offering series of art classes, concerts, and poetry workshops.
We miss being together and we miss seeing all of you (not on screens), but we will continue to do our part to stop the spread of COVID-19, which disproportionally affects BIPOC people in our communities.
During this time when we are aiming to be extra flexible, we encourage you to follow us on our social media to get the latest updates on the Institute's happenings: IG: @ilgbt_uofa and FB: @ilgbtuofa
Best,
Jill Koyama, Director (she/her/hers)
Sarah Maaske, Program Coordinator (she/they)
Angela Labistre Champion, Graduate Research Associate (she/her/hers)
Luna Chung, Graduate Research Associate (she/they)
Sy Simms, Graduate Research Associate (they/them)
Meet the newest member of our team!
Sy Simms (They/Them) joins the iLGBTS as a graduate research associate after serving as a 2019-2020 University Fellow. They are a 2nd-year doctoral student in the Center for the Study of Higher Education. Their research interests include interrogating institutional and administrative practices of "diversity and Inclusion" and examining higher education policies and practices through queer of color and Black Feminist critique. When not engaging in academic pursuits, Sy can usually be found making a beautiful mess in the kitchen or wandering through bookstores.
Welcome, Sy!!!
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Protect Trans Housing Rights and write to HUD now!
In another effort to attack transgender communities, the Trump administration proposed removal of the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD)'s Equal Access Rule--which provides protections for trans people seeking shelter and/or access to other HUD-funded programs.
In partnership with the ACLU, Human Rights Campaign Foundation, Lamda Legal, and numerous other organizations committed to support of LGBTQ+ communities, Housing Saves Lives urges us to demand that critical protections for trans people's access to housing resources be kept in place by writing and submitting a letter directly to HUD by September 22nd, 2020.
You can find Housing Saves Lives' compiled research on this issue, letter templates, and the letter submission portal here.
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In Memoriam: André Newman
We would like to hold space to honor the life and legacy of André Newman: father, business owner, artist, historian, and a treasured member of our Tucson community. Ways to support his family and honor his memory can be found here: https://campsite.bio/honoringandrenewman
Rest in power, André.
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QUEER CONEXIONES: This Week!
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THIS TUESDAY: Join the UArizona Cultural & Resource Centers for their Virtual Welcome Event!
Image text: The University of Arizona Multicultural Engagement presents: Cultural & Resource Center's Virtual Welcome Events (**use your UA NetID to join). August 26th, 2020, 5:00-6:15pm, arizona.zoom.us/j/97029828366; September 1, 2020. 11:00am-12:15pm, arizona.zoom.us/j/96412524216. Meet center staff. Financial aid advisor will be available. Find community.
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Help Support SAGA's Trans COVID Relief Fund & Enter to Win a FREE Tattoo by Art Mimics Life!
Image text: Art Mimics Life is partnering up with Southern Arizona Gender Alliance (SAGA) to help support the Trans COVID Relief Fund by raffling off "A" free tattoo! Raffle tickets can be purchased via Venmo: @SAGATucson or CashApp: $SAGATucson. (1) One entry ticket for a donation of 5.00 or (5) Five entry tickets for a donation of 20.00. |
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Check out our upcoming events for Fall 2020!
Image text: iLGBTS Events Fall 2020. September: Trans/Space is Expanding virtual creative workshop series with TC Tolbert, Wednesday, Sept 16th, 6:00PM-8:00PM via Zoom, Workshops meet every Wednesday through Nov 18th! Register at https://tinyurl.com/transspace. Exploring LGBTQ+ characters and erasure in transformative works with Catherine Draper, Date & time TBD. October: Divinatory Poetics for Witchy Queers with Kristen Nelson, Thursday, Oct. 1st, 6:00PM - 8:00PM via Zoom, Register at https://tinyurl.com/witchyqueers. Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) Tucson presents Stay Gold: The Queer Imaginary 10-week virtual art exploration program, Tuesday, Oct. 6th, 5:00PM - 6:30PM via Zoom, Program meets every Tuesday through Dec 8th! Miranda Joseph Endowed Lecture w/ Keynote Speaker Micha Cardenas, Friday, Oct. 16th, 5:30PM - 7:00PM via Zoom webinar. November: THEM Youth Ensemble Virtual Performance, Date & Time TBD. All events are virtual & free! Stay tuned for more event details & updates! *Indicates a co-sponsored event! |
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Register now for Trans/Space is Expanding Virtual Creative Workshop Series w/ TC Tolbert!
Every Wednesday!
Sept. 16th - Nov. 18th
6PM - 8PM (AZ time*) via Zoom
FREE | Registration & password required!
Trans/Space is Expanding is a series of online creative workshops inspired to build community and connection through poetry for all members of Tucson's Trans*, Non-binary, and Queer+ communities. Each session will feature different creative prompts and poems by Trans*, Non-binary, and Queer+ writers, centering work by QTBIPOC writers. Workshops are designed to be interactive, exploratory, and fun. No previous poetry experience is necessary and no one is required to share their writing (there is a sharing-optional period in each workshop, but there is no pressure to share). You are welcome to come to as many sessions as you are able.
A message from TC: *A note on language: I've chosen to use the phrase "Trans*, Non-binary, and/or Queer+" in an attempt to celebrate and highlight those identities that, even within the LGBTQ+ umbrella, often get overlooked or dismissed - including Trans, Transgender, Transsexual, Two-Spirit (2SQ), Genderqueer, Gender Nonconforming, Genderfluid, Intersex, Agender, Asexual, Questioning, and Pansexual folx. Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual folx are also absolutely welcome and included! Ultimately, I want to stretch language and the possibilities of identity and community and radical celebration to include all who want to be here. <3
**Please note: each session will begin and the "doors will close" at 6:05pm so that we can establish group agreements and create a brave and safe space. Unfortunately, we will not be able to let anyone into the session after 6:05pm.
Register for workshops here. Learn more about TC and his work here.
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Register now for MOCA Tucson's 10-week workshop series Stay Gold: The Queer Imaginary!
TUESDAYS, Oct. 6th - Dec. 8th
5:00 PM - 6:30 PM
ONLINE
Ages 13-100 | FREE | Registration required
"Art exists where language fails." - Sheila Pepe
In this 10-week ONLINE program, participants in Stay Gold will learn about installation art, receive a kit with the materials needed to create mini-installations, and learn new skills as they move through the process. Through video tutorials and live Zoom meetings, teaching artists will work with participants to work through their ideas and troubleshoot creative ways to make their imagined spaces real.
Many queer and LGBTQIA+ people have had to imagine worlds in which they could exist openly and freely. This queer imaginary offers a respite from a world that would often rather not accept or accommodate difference. This program provides the opportunity to explore these imaginaries and create openings to further explore what it means to be queer in a world where we must choose to live outside the "norm" or conform. As beings who are constantly becoming and refuse to allow our narratives to be told about us and without us, we believe it is important to highlight the imaginary and use this as an opportunity for community-building, skill-building, and conscious co-creation.
Learn more about Stay Gold & MOCA here. Register for this opportunity here.
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Save the Screening Room!
Saturday, Sept. 12th
7:00 PM
The Screening Room | 127 E Congress
15.00, limited in-person & virtual attendance options available
For the past 2 years, The Screening Room has been home to many LGBTQ events aiming to raise money for women who have been abused, veterans, at-risk youth, breast cancer, the Humane Society of Southern AZ, individuals with Down syndrome, NAACP and countless others. Now, the Screening Room is asking the Tucson community for support to keep their doors open! The Save the Screening Room event will feature 14 performers from all around Arizona! Tickets for limited in-person attendance will be available, with strict social distancing rules applied at the event. Alternatively, the show will be live streamed here. You can also donate to the Screening Room's GoFundMe here.
Read more about this event & purchase tickets here. |
CONFERENCES, CALLS, CLASSES, and FUNDING
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Do you have events, announcements, courses, or other info you'd like to share for the iLGBT Studies newsletter?
Please share content by Thursday to be featured in the following Monday's newsletter. Thank you!
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